Can I sand my fretboard?

[big_black]

I am seriously bothered by the crap fretboard I was handed on my "new" SG Classic. There are gouges along either side of the frets. I want to try and remedy this. I was thinking I could just sand off some of the face of the fretboard and then buff it out with some #0000 steel wool. It is probably only about 1/32 or 1/64", not much but I'm not sure if will affect the feel. Any problems with this? Here are some pics of my awesome fretboard. Please don't laugh at me.

 

[theodie]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

It shouldnt bother it. After I level and crown frets on a non-laquered board I use 300-2000 (working my way up) git paper then steel wool to polish everything. Just wrap the paper around you finger and work it up and down the board. It dosent take much effort and dont use one grit for that long. After than I oil the board and it look fresh and new. BTW, it will help crown you frets and make them look fresh also.

 

[Imp]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

be careful man, and give it a good conditioning with something to freshen up the wood afterwards..

tom

 

[big_black]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

...like lemon oil? I just don't want to be the next scallop pwned!

 

[Imp]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

:laugh2:

i use furniture polish.. heard everywhere that i shouldnt, and i dunno why, it works for me :dance:

tom

 

[theodie]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

Use something thats made to do the task like this

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishi...lvents/ColorTone_Fretboard_Finishing_Oil.html

 

[theodie]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

...like lemon oil? I just don't want to be the next scallop pwned!

My way will not scallop the board. You dont have to give it much effort at all. Go up and down the board and over the frets 5 or 6 times with each grit and thats it.

 

[theodie]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

I see your pics now. That looks like either grime or left over glue. Dull down a raxor blade and rub it back and forth (in the oppisite direction that the frets run) between the frets to clean that up before you use the method I suggested. Same method I use to clean up glue after a fret job.

 

[pac112]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

what is that stuff ??

 

[big_black]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

I tried to buff out the gouges and try to smooth the binding a bit with steel wool. There is no glues there, that is just the gunk left over from the steel wool stuck in the gouges and oil I put on the fret board. I should have cleaned that stuf out before I oiled but I didn't notice it waas that bad. So you are saying I sould go over the frets too? I was just going to sand down the rosewood on the fretboard and binding. I don't know if I feel comfortable going over the frets with sandpaper. I've buffed them before, but never used sandpaper. I just don't want to throw off the FB radius.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

When cleaning I generally just give the board (and back of the neck on oiled necks) a quick once or twice over with 0000 Steel wool (enough that the frets shine again nicely, remember to tape off the pickups first or you´ll have steel dust everywhere) and then Naphtha (lighter fluid), and then a quick once over the board with lemon oil

 

[big_black]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

So napatha cleans away the steel wool bits huh? I'll have to use it next time.

 

[theodie]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

Naptha (A.K.A. lighter fluid) cleans alot of stuff. Zerb is right, mask off the pickups If you dont want pieces of the steel wool will be all over the poles and the only way to get it completly off is to pull out the magnet.

 

[theodie]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

I tried to buff out the gouges and try to smooth the binding a bit with steel wool. There is no glues there, that is just the gunk left over from the steel wool stuck in the gouges and oil I put on the fret board. I should have cleaned that stuf out before I oiled but I didn't notice it waas that bad. So you are saying I sould go over the frets too? I was just going to sand down the rosewood on the fretboard and binding. I don't know if I feel comfortable going over the frets with sandpaper. I've buffed them before, but never used sandpaper. I just don't want to throw off the FB radius.

Since it is not as bad as it looks, Just steel wool everything. I thought it had all kinds of unsavory stuff on it so, disreguard everything and go crazy with the wool..

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

Naptha cleans alot of stuff. Zerb is right, mask off the pickups. If you dont, pieces of the steel wool will be all over the poles and the only way to get it completly off is to pull out the magnet.

Actually, I keep an old squire single coil around just in case some manage to get past

Since it is not as bad as it looks, Just steel wool everything. I thought it had all kinds of unsavory stuff on it so, disreguard everything and go crazy with the wool..

+1...I didn´t post until it was pretty chear that it was gunk....just take your guitar in the left hand, steel wool in the right, and run up an down teh length of the neck a few hundred times /until your arm falls off, whichever comes first

 

[theodie]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

Actually, I keep an old squire single coil around just in case some manage to get past

Hmmmm, by chance would you be in danger of de-gaussing the good pickup?

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

Only if I need hours to get the shavings out and its 450° outside

 

[theodie]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

Only if I need hours to get the shavings out and its 450° outside

Right on by brotha!!!!!!!! :laugh2:

 

[big_black]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

Since it is not as bad as it looks, Just steel wool everything. I thought it had all kinds of unsavory stuff on it so, disreguard everything and go crazy with the wool..

The steel wool wasn't enough, that is why I want to use the sandpaper. I need something more abrasive that will take away more wood.

 

[theodie]

Re: Can I sand my fretboard?

The steel wool wasn't enough, that is why I want to use the sandpaper. I need something more abrasive that will take away more wood.

Follow the steps that I have already told you about.